Mississippi State University and Starkville Area Habitat for Humanity broke ground last week on the 13th annual Maroon Edition home. Pictured from left to right are Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill, MSU President Mark E. Keenum, homeowner Keva Robertson, Rev. Abdural Lee of Sand Creek Chapel Church, and Starkville Area Habitat for Humanity President Jesse Morrison. PHOTO: Robby Lozano | Public Affairs
Mississippi’s Poet Laureate Catherine Pierce to give online talk on how ‘poetry is for everyone’
Catherine Pierce, Mississippi’s Poet Laureate and a professor in Mississippi State’s Department of English, will lead a live Facebook event Tuesday [Aug. 24], giving a public reading and discussing her prestigious statewide appointment. Hosted by the MSU College of Arts and Sciences’ Institute for the Humanities, the 4 p.m. free event will be streamed on the Institute for the Humanities Facebook page, available at https://www.facebook.com/msu.humanities.institute. Pierce, who serves as co-director of the English department’s creative writing program, was appointed as Mississippi’s Poet Laureate this spring by Gov. Tate Reeves. Pierce is the recipient of the 2021 Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Poetry Award for her book “Danger Days,” (Saturnalia 2020), a collection of poems addressing the beauty of the world, as well as destruction created by climate change.
Fall general faculty meeting coming up Aug. 31
The Office of the President and the Robert Holland Faculty Senate invite all Mississippi State University faculty to the fall general faculty meeting at 2 p.m. on Tuesday [Aug. 31] in Lee Hall's Bettersworth Auditorium. Interested members of the campus community also are welcome. The meeting will feature an update from President Mark E. Keenum. The MSU Television Center will provide a livestream of the meeting for those unable to attend in person or who prefer to watch online. The livestream will be
available at https://vimeo.com/event/1181669. If you require special assistance related to a disability, please contact Meg Berry at mberry@pres.msstate.edu or 662-325-2396.
ORED adds financial incentive for faculty writing for The Conversation
Mississippi State University's partnership with The Conversation allows faculty to communicate research to a broad audience online at https://theconversation.com/us and beyond. The Conversation publishes faculty-written articles under a Creative Commons license, meaning that other news sources can republish The Conversation’s content. Publishing your work in The Conversation communicates MSU’s scholarly activities to wider audiences and increases the public’s understanding about the types of work being done at MSU. In order to recognize the importance of sharing research with a wide variety of audiences MSU's Office of Research and Economic Development will provide a $500 incentive for any MSU faculty member whose work is successfully published in The Conversation.
MSU Golf Course memberships now available for fall
Mississippi State University Golf Course memberships are now available to MSU students, faculty and staff. The $550 membership includes unlimited golf green fee and golf car fees for the entire fall semester. A green fee only option is available for $300. Memberships are for enrolled students in good standing, faculty and staff, but do not extend to family members. Membership will be valid from Aug. 16-Dec. 12. Please contact PGA Head Golf Professional Tim Basel at 662-325-3028 or tbasel@business.msstate.edu if you have any questions.
International Institute shares passport reminders
Mississippi State's International Institute is encouraging all students and faculty who are considering travel within the next six months to apply or renew (if needed) their passport now. Current U.S. passport processing times are significantly longer than normal, so it is more important than ever that you plan early. First-time passport applications and renewals are taking up to 18 weeks for routine service and up to 12 weeks for expedited service (additional $60). If you aren't sure if you need to renew your passport, check the expiration date and make sure it is valid for six months after the end of your potential travel dates. Additionally, keep in mind that if your travel requires a visa, you often need to send your passport to the embassy to receive your visa prior to travel.
Smoke-free policy enhances healthy environment
Mississippi State University is a smoke-free campus. Official policy prohibits the use of any combustible or vapor products anywhere on campus property including university buildings, university grounds, university vehicles, parking areas and sidewalks. The smoke-free campus policy is part of the university's commitment to creating a healthy environment for all members of the campus community. Use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookah or other similar devices are prohibited by this policy. The complete policy is available at www.policies.msstate.edu/policy/91301.
The Office of Public Affairs provides Maroon MEMO as a general information
resource for Mississippi State University employees.
Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to
Jim Laird.
